VBCW: Bridge over the River Wye

The Hereford VBCW game went of swimmingly at the week end. I took my Royalists, in the form of Lord Robert Grover and his militias, to help defend the estate of the Baron of Foy, a distant relative of Lord Robert, from the terrible Anglican League.

In truth  Lord Robert Grover probably had more in common with the officers of the Anglicans that he did with his allies- a dreadfully rough Scots fascist and some uncouth South African's fighting for the king. 

The battle consisted of an Anglican attack on the Baron's property in Foy. The main force of the Anglicans were obliged to cross a footbridge under constant and withering fire, with predictable and bloody consequences. The Anglicans, in fairness, were game lads, brave and heroic, but their attack was ultimately futile as the bridge was too weak to carry their Vickers 6 ton tank across the river. A particular down-point for the Anglicans was when the dastardly BUF reduced a section of fine AL cavalry to a bloody mist with HMG fire. 

The Anglican's best hope came when a platoon of commandos managed to cross the river using an old and long forgotten tunnel, and mount a surprise flank attack. The sudden assault caught my armored car crew mid-cup-of-tea, and the vehicle was destroyed by a sticky bomb attack. After their initial success the commando's attack stalled, despite bringing up a Stokes mortar, as they seemed to lack the incentive to press the attack home. Two sections of rough and ready BUF cads and the machines guns from my light reconnaissance cars were enough to keep them tied up. Eventually the Anglicans withdrew from Foy, having lost four sections of men (including a cavalry section) and a universal bren carrier. I had lost the armored car and the best part of a section of militia, and the BUF had lost a section of infantry. 

Poor resonance cost the Anglicans the day. Had they have realised that the foot bridge was not strong enough to support a tank, and brought some armored cars or a field gun instead, then they might have fared better. 

Elsewhere in the battle the Anglican League fared slightly better, having damaged a railway bridge, effectively cutting the BUF off from their reinforcements, but at a terrible cost. Some confusion remains  but the BUF commanders also maintain that the South Africans buggered off at an inopportune moment  leaving the BUF in the lurch, as they had to contend with angry locals and an AL assault. 

Over all, another great day out to Hertfordshire and a great game and curry/waffly chat afterwards. 

Lord Robert's groundsmen lay an ambush

Lord Robert chats with his advisers at Foy Hall

Foy Hall, in the foreground, and the weak footbridge over the river Wye visible at the top of the picture. 

The BUF redoubt that commanded a good firing position at the troops crossing the footbridge.

AL commandos launching a flank attack

Having had their armored car blown up, the crew smoke a cigarette and wait to surrender to the AL officer. 

The AL commandos attack the flank, but the attack runs out of momentum

The AL forces trying to cross the foot bridge realise the futility of their assault without the support of a tank.

My brave lads successfully defend Foy Hall.